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The demonization of the 'Best World Music Album' category at the Grammy Awards is actually something unfathomable.
It's almost as if everyone is sleeping the same way and hanging their heads in the same direction. People treat it like it's inherently bad when it's not.
It's almost as if everyone is sleeping the same way and hanging their heads in the same direction. People treat it like it's inherently bad when it's not.
First off, the Grammy Award is an American institution. It was created to celebrate American music, not satisfy the entire world. As much as 'Best World Music Album' might be exclusionary or might make the Grammys seem elitist, the category has also served a purpose.
That purpose is simple; to celebrate music from other parts of the world - music that might not be popular or recognized on American soil, but deserve some recognition.
It's just like when the MTV African Music Awards created a 'Best International Artist' category.
It's just like when the MTV African Music Awards created a 'Best International Artist' category.
Why are American artists not rioting to be properly represented? It's simple. A Grammy Award is more desirable and America inspires the rest of the world more than the world inspires America - even though America culturally feeds of the rest of the world for sustenance.
African artists act like the Grammy Award isn't shit, but then go ahead to subconsciously elevate it in importance lol. Here's what we Africans are basically saying;
We are African superstars and we want our music to be properly represented at your American award.
We are African superstars and we want our music to be properly represented at your American award.
We think this 'Best World Music Album' category is actually elitist and it passively elevates American music over the rest of the world.
So, we would like to request that you stop that. Accommodate us into other categories because your award ceremony is more desirable to ours.
So, we would like to request that you stop that. Accommodate us into other categories because your award ceremony is more desirable to ours.
Lol. In essence, by not wanting your music to feel inferior in an AMERICAN AWARD, you people ended up making the entire Africa inferior by pandering for inclusion at an AMERICAN AWARD - not a global award. Sighs.
I can't be the only one thinking this, right?
I can't be the only one thinking this, right?
Asides from how there's a load of entitlement in that conversation, it feels like African artists also seem to think that their chances of winning a Grammy would increase if their music could get nominated in other categories.
Why are you dissing people who don't really...
Why are you dissing people who don't really...
... Owe you that recognition?
Why are we not trying to build an African Award instead for fuck's sake? Is nobody thinking?
You lot won't give a crap about Black, African and Nigerian award and won't even attend those awards. Instead, you'll be fighting for inclusion...
Why are we not trying to build an African Award instead for fuck's sake? Is nobody thinking?
You lot won't give a crap about Black, African and Nigerian award and won't even attend those awards. Instead, you'll be fighting for inclusion...
... At another country's award ceremony while backing it up with some bullshit narrative that racial politics birthed. Are you lot not thinking?
The only way Africa will be respected is if Africa builds its own award ceremony. The Grammy Awards don't owe use shit!
The only way Africa will be respected is if Africa builds its own award ceremony. The Grammy Awards don't owe use shit!
African artists have a severe case of misplaced priority, fam. You hate your own award ceremonies because you think you get cheated but you go cry to an award show that didn't even nominate Kanye's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' for album of the year.
That's one of the greatest albums ever made.
We're talking about an award that named Cardi B's 'Invasion of Privacy' Best rap album. Are you lot serious?
We need to start thinking rather than act on undertones of racial/representation politics. TF is y'all's problem?
We're talking about an award that named Cardi B's 'Invasion of Privacy' Best rap album. Are you lot serious?
We need to start thinking rather than act on undertones of racial/representation politics. TF is y'all's problem?
It's just like how some people were demonizing the word 'urban' earlier in the year. As exclusionary as it is, it's also a retention of the purity of black culture. It's not like we black people want to share our culture with the world, anyway.
'Urban' is how some people have transcended careers. As much as it also connotes limitation in a lot of ways, it has its advantages.
We need to start thinking and fighting the right battles as a people and as a culture with straight priorities.
We need to start thinking and fighting the right battles as a people and as a culture with straight priorities.
